CNBC recently featured MSK’s Dr. Esther Babady in an article answering a question at the forefront of our minds: Why is my at-home COVID test negative when I have symptoms?

In the article, Dr. Babady hypothesizes that BA.4 and BA.5, the current most common COVID variants, may have undergone structural mutations that makes them more difficult for a home test to detect. She also says that people may not have enough detectable viral proteins early in the course of disease, and that some home tests may be better than others at detecting the current strains.  

Dr. Babady recommends getting a PCR test, which is more sensitive than home tests, and to isolate and wear masks around others if you have symptoms, even with negative test results. Even if you don’t have COVID, you can prevent spreading other viruses using these precautions.